NVIDIA has been producing graphics cards for hard-core gamers for years. But now the company is introducing its first gaming console: a 5 inch handheld gaming system code-named Project Shield.
It features an NVIDIA Tegra 4 quad-core processor, a 5 inch 720p touchscreen display, and a built-in game controller.
The system runs stock Google Android software and you can download any games or other apps from the Play Store, but there’s also a “Shield” mode which brings up a game browser and access to the TegraZone game store.
Project Shield features a 38Whr battery which is good for up to 24 hours of video playback, or 5 to 10 hours of game play.
The system also features heavy-duty audio components, HDMI output, a micro USB port, microSD card slot, and 3.5mm audio jack.
You can plug in an external display and use the system with a TV, and in today’s unveiling, the company even showed off Project Shield powering a 4K display and playing videos on games on the high resolution screen.
Project Shield can also pair with any PC with an NVIDIA GTX graphics cards to stream games from your PC to the mobile device, as seen in the video above. That also provides a way to play PC games on your TV if your TV is plugged into your Shield system.
NVIDIA hasn’t announced a price for Project Shield yet, but the company hopes to ship the handheld gaming console in the second quarter of 2013.
I still find it a really interesting move of Nvidia to develop a gaming system themselves. Wonder how the public will react to it. I don’t think it’s easy to enter the stronghold market of game handhelds.
I personally find it ugly as sin. People have some strange design tastes.
If it’s not too expensive then there goes OUYA. I’m sure NVIDIA can get more quality exclusives than them.
Too bad you can’t spin the screen round so it points outwards when you want to use the Android inside there for something other than gaming.
WOW the Ouya is obsolete before it is even released lol
This would be an interesting addition to the living room. In some scenarios it may even be a replacement for the set-top-box which streams videos and music from your NAS.
I agree that MIracast would be in important feature to play videos on your TV wireless.
How about wireless support like DLNA or Miracast?